Landsmannschaft

A Landsmannschaft (German: [ˈlantsmanʃaft]; Latin natio, plural nationes) is a German fraternity of several fraternity forms called Studentenverbindung.

The older forms of Landsmannschaften were part of corporations and are closely aligned with the beginnings of universities in medieval times of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The newer forms of Landsmannschaften are a kind of reform corps and most Landsmannschaften are members of the Coburger Convent.

In order to understand the history of German fraternities, it needs to be known that the first universities in Europe were established in the 12th and 13th century in Paris (France), Bologna and Padua (Italy), and later also in Oxford and Cambridge (England). Students joined groups in regards to region in order to have protection as well as support in being heard in their interests. The two early forms were called nations (Nationes) or colleges (Collegien) and organized not only the work but also social life and had major influence in universities as they elected the head of a university (magister) in some areas.

Landsmannschaften formerly had the character of guilds. They were loosely organized bodies of students from the same region or nation naturally enough drawn together by their longings for companionship. A good example is the Mosellanerlandsmannschaft of the University of Jena. It contained members from the Rhineland, Palatinate, Swabia, and Alsace. The purposes of the organizations in general were:

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